Navigating the Current Health and Policy Landscape—A Philanthropic Response
Event Details
When
Location
Cost
Register
Register by
About the Event
All CMF members are invited to join the Health Funders Affinity Group for a timely conversation exploring the intersection of health, community well-being, and philanthropy in today’s rapidly shifting policy landscape. This webinar will begin with an overview of the current state of the sector, examining key policy developments and systemic challenges that will shape the health field. Participants will gain insights from a local health system that is responding to needs through innovative, community-driven solutions, offering a clear picture of what’s working and new opportunities ahead. This session will conclude with an open dialogue among participants, creating space to share perspectives, ask questions, and identify actionable next steps.
This session is hosted by the Health Funders Affinity Group.
Leena Mangrulkar
Leena Mangrulkar is the manager of the Southeast Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, a collective of funders in the region investing in early childhood strategies. Over the past 20 years she has worked in Michigan and Detroit with foundations and nonprofit organizations focused on systems change in education, health, and social supports that affects young children and their families. She is an applied researcher with deep experience in facilitation of informed, collective problem solving and the practical use of research and evaluation.. Her expertise ranges from facilitating strategic planning processes to implementing qualitative and quantitative data collection to evaluating the impact of efforts to improve social good. She is skilled at working with diverse communities on issues including equity in education, food access, immigration and access to resources for underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad.
Lynda Zeller
Lynda has dedicated more than 35 years of service to the fields of indigent health, behavioral health, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and managed care. Working in a wide variety of roles at the local, county, state, and national level, she has tackled complex health, social and justice policy challenges. She is a nationally known and trusted policy advisor, also acting in many volunteer and consulting roles. Her volunteer service has included more than a decade as an officer on national boards serving State Authorities of public I/DD, Serious Mental Illness (SMI) , Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Justice systems. Lynda currently serves as the Director of Region 5, which she will be exiting at the end of Summer 2025, covering Michigan and several other states, for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She engages directly with states and stakeholders, and also offers support and engagement on a nationwide level, ensuring knowledge and expertise are shared across all states in all regions. Regional directors interface daily with other USHHS Authorities such as Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living (ACL), Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and more. Prior to SAMHSA Lynda served five years as the Senior Fellow for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Through grants, research and targeted projects, Lynda supported nonprofits, counties, and state government agencies as they piloted new projects, policies, programs, and data advancements to maximize positive impact of health, behavioral health, and justice systems. In previous roles, Lynda has served as the deputy director for the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Health Services Administrator for the Michigan Department of Corrections; and was the Chief Executive Officer for the Kent Health Plan, a safety net health coverage plan in Michigan.
Questions?
or call 616-850-2136